SYARAKU & EISHI

SHARAKU

Dates of birth and death not known. Period of production: 6th and 7th years of Kansei. Neither his career nor his lineage as painter has been clearly recorded. Said to have been a Noh-play actor at first. He displayed creative genius in portrying men and women, especially actors,whose facial expressions he depicted with a masterly hand. By combining with this skill his clever application of the technique of woodblock printing, he produced color prints de luxe. He may indeed be said to have geratly improved upon the manners of Shunsho's disciples, Shun-ei and Shunko. His creations did not exceed a few hundred, and they are highly valued by collectors and students of art.

Large size<26cm x 39.4cm>
Middre size<20.5cm x 30cm >


B-22.Kabuki,Onizi	B-23.Kabuki,Ebizou

EISHI

Studied first under Kano Eisen'in Sukenobu, then under Torii Bunryusai. Appointed to high court rank. working in Kano style, was granted the artist's name of Eishi by Tokugawa Ieharu; about 30, keft Ieharu's service and, though he changed to the ukiyo-e style, was allowed to keep the name of Eishi. In prints, specialised in bijinga of great rifinement, at first under the Torii school; later his figures even surpassed those of Utamaro in elegance and elongation. Also did a few landscapes and compositions with literary references. His paintings among the finest of the ukiyo-e school: tall figures; flowing drapery, elegant line, brighy colors.